(foto: Posnetek zaslona)
Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher attacked the refereeing of Joao Pinheiro after Bayern Munich’s controversial loss to PSG.
The controversy surrounding Joao Pinheiro continues to grow after Bayern Munich’s dramatic Champions League semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain.
After Bayern players, coaches and CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen criticised the Portuguese referee, football legends Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher also openly questioned his performance.
The biggest complaints focused on two possible handball incidents inside the PSG penalty area, especially the moment involving Joao Neves.
Thierry Henry, speaking as a television pundit after the match, admitted he was frustrated by the level of officiating.
“Look, I was on the pitch myself. I know what it feels like when a decision is made against you at a moment like this. And it was the wrong one,” Henry said.
The former Arsenal and Barcelona striker stressed that refereeing standards must be higher in matches of this magnitude.
“At this stage of the competition, in a match of this importance, the refereeing has to be at a higher level. The referee simply has to be better. I am frustrated by the inconsistency, because we have already seen the same situation refereed differently in this tournament. So what are the criteria?” Henry added.
Henry also criticised the lack of VAR intervention during the controversial moments.
“A clear penalty was missed, and what's worse is that the referee didn't even look at the VAR. In a game of this level, that's incomprehensible.”
Jamie Carragher was even more direct in his criticism, especially regarding the Joao Neves incident.
“I'm watching this and I'm absolutely furious. Joao Neves's hand is out, like he's directing traffic. It's clear handball, a clear penalty for Bayern, and the referee just waves it off!” Carragher said.
The former Liverpool defender compared the standard of officiating to amateur football.
“This is not a village league, this is the biggest stage in club football. Unbelievable.”
The refereeing debate has now become one of the main talking points after PSG’s qualification for the final, where the French side will face Arsenal in Budapest.
For Bayern, the frustration remains strong, especially because many inside the club believe key decisions changed the direction of the tie.